Use of Copernicia vespertilionum as Habitat for Mormopterus minutus (Chiroptera: Molossidae) in Ciego De Avila, Cuba

Abstract

Mormopterus minutus is a bat endemic to Cuba and its preferred habitat is the palm Copernicia vespertiliorum. Due to its specialization and the loss of its habitats due to anthropogenic action, the species is classified as Vulnerable. The aim of this work is to characterize the population of C. vespertilionum as possible refuges of M. minutus in the Loma de Santa Maria Wildlife Refuge protected area. Between March and August 2019, 4 random grids were marked in the Coastal Savannah for sampling the palm population. Night time counts of the bats were carried out using camera traps and basic morphometry was performed on individuals captured with mist nets. There were 27 specimens of C. vespertilionum with five active colonies that had an average height of 9.81m, while the refuge areas showed an average height of 2.75m. Colonies can present between 2000 and 5500 individuals per refuge. The alar expansion showed an average of 21.8cm, the length of the forearm an average of 9.65cm and the weight of the species averaged 6.5 g. It was determined that forest fires, as a result of anthropogenic actions, were the main cause of the decrease in the population of M. minutus in the protected area. Finally, measures and actions were established for the conservation and protection of the palm trees and with it, of the bat.